Month: September 2016

Mothersauce Partners went nationwide recently with an exploratory trip to Austin, TX. What an amazing city in the midst of an amazing time. There is a palpable energy to the town that is inescapable—what was for years a quiet capital is now undergoing explosive growth. It seems that everyone there is trying to figure out how to make it work.

The food and drink scene in Austin is in the midst of a powerful transformation in concert with the city’s growth as a whole. Standbys like barbecue and Tex-Mex are having to adjust as new concepts gain a foothold in the scene. Navigating this as a newcomer can be tricky, but it was made easier thanks to Rachel Charlesworth. Her Instagram, ATXEats, boasts almost 14,000 followers. If you want to know where to eat—just follow her.

Unfortunately, no one told me how to dress. After my third meeting where I was in a blazer and dress shoes, and the other party was in flip flops, I started to get Austin. I shed my DC armor and began to enjoy myself a bit more.

I tried to hit a lot of the spots—Launderette, Uchiko, Fleet Coffee, Easy Tiger, Tamale House East and so on—but there were just so many on the list.

A special shout goes out to the dynamic CEO of an Austin institution, Mason Ayer at Kerbey Lane Cafe. It was great to hear about the history of an iconic company and learn about what the future might hold for them.

Also, the kick ass team at SMGB Hospitality is ready to take over Austin—and beyond. Their upcoming project, Old Thousand will no doubt make an immediate impact. These guys are real pros. Thanks for all the time, gentlemen.

I think a lot about startup culture in this country and how it is always talked about in tech, but it is as prevalent in food as much as anywhere. Restaurants are startups—aspiring restaurateurs have a great idea to meet an under-served need, they scrounge for some capital, then they take a huge risk and hope to make it big. Austin is full of these people, as is DC, and it is a big part of what makes the cities great.

I was lucky enough to meet with some of these food startup folks down there who are ready to disrupt the Austin scene for the better, and I hope to have some info soon about how Mothersauce Partners will help them do it.

In the meantime, my last meeting summed up Austin perfectly. I had heard about Barton Springs Pool, a spring-fed pool in the middle of a city park, and I wanted to jump in before I left. Turns out the guy I met with last was a swimmer, and he offered to take me on the way to the airport—and jump right in with me. Now that is a cool guy, and it was a great meeting.

I started the trip in a sport jacket, and I finished it in board shorts. Thanks, ATX. I will be back soon.